Urban park plan for under Glasgow M74 motorway flyover

The proposed urban park will be built under and around the Port Eglinton viaduct in Glasgow

Plans have been drawn up to transform a vacant area of land under a motorway flyover in Glasgow into a hub for skateboarding, BMX and free-running.

The charity Glasgow Urban Sports wants to build the £1m facility in the Port Eglinton area, to the west of Eglinton Street, in the city's south side.

Proposed designs for the urban sports art park are going on show at The Lighthouse in Glasgow.

The exhibition will run from 18 July until 10 August.

Glasgow Urban Sports said the park would aim to make use of the M74 flyover, which would shelter more than 50% of the space beneath, ensuring it would still be used in poor weather.

The land around the Port Eglinton viaduct is currently vacant
This view with the M74 carriageway removed shows much of the park would be sheltered underneath
The park will be designed for use by free runners, skateboarders and BMX riders

The existing plans have been drawn up by lead designers Raydale Dower and Toby Paterson in conjunction with Keppie Design Architects in Glasgow.

Mr Dower said: "The park is designed for people to use, not just to look at.

"We are consciously quoting from the best skate spots around the world and building in things like, back-yard swimming pool bowls, china town banks, and urban plaza design, with seating areas and landscaping for members of the local and general public to enjoy."

'Physical landmark'

"We're trying to redefine the preconceived notion of what a public park might be, so while the benches act as seating, where people can observe the space, the benches are also there to be skated and used so the park is open to user interpretation."

The scheme has been supported in the development stage by Creative Scotland, Transport Scotland and Glasgow City Council.

It is hoped that if plans are finalised and funding put in place, the council would formally support a future planning application.

The council's design advisor Gerry Grams said: "In a local context, the park has the potential to act as a physical and psychological landmark.

"It provides a green space within what was a heavily industrial area of the city.

"What's particularly exciting about the park is that it offers the opportunity to link existing and new pedestrian and cycling links the area currently lacks, at the same time as acting an intriguing conduit destination, attracting cultural tourist's route between city centre, Gallery of Modern Art and and Tramway."